Steelers Explore 3 Potential Trade-Up Scenarios for 2026 NFL Draft

Pittsburgh holds 12 picks, including 5 in the Top 100, giving them flexibility to move up for top prospects.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:03am

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in the Steelers' black and gold colors, representing the dynamic action and strategy of the NFL draft.The Steelers' draft capital provides them the flexibility to maneuver up the board and land top prospects that could elevate their roster.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a strong position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, with 12 total picks including 5 in the top 100. The team is exploring potential trade-up scenarios to target blue-chip players that may fall outside the top 10 picks. Three specific trade-up options are identified based on recent mock draft simulations - moving up to pick #11 with the Dolphins, pick #15 with the Buccaneers, and pick #17 with the Lions.

Why it matters

The Steelers have an opportunity to be aggressive in the 2026 draft and land impact players that could help accelerate their rebuilding process. With multiple early-round picks, they have the draft capital to move up the board and secure top talents at key positions like offensive tackle, wide receiver, and safety.

The details

In the Dolphins trade-up scenario, the Steelers could send their first-round pick, first third-round pick, and second third-round pick to Miami to select Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at #11. For the Buccaneers trade, Pittsburgh could package their first-rounder, second third-rounder, and third third-rounder to move up to #15 and grab Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Alternatively, the Steelers could trade just their second third-round pick to the Lions to jump to #17 and select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26, 2026.

The players

Caleb Lomu

A standout offensive tackle prospect from the University of Utah.

Jordyn Tyson

A talented wide receiver from Arizona State University.

Dillon Thieneman

A hard-hitting safety from the University of Oregon.

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What they’re saying

“The Steelers have plenty of draft capital and any of these three trade-up scenarios could really help this team.”

— Curt Popejoy, Author

What’s next

The Steelers will continue to evaluate their draft options and determine which trade-up scenarios provide the best value and fit for their roster needs.

The takeaway

The Steelers' abundance of draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft gives them the flexibility to be aggressive and trade up to secure top talents at key positions. These three trade-up scenarios demonstrate how Pittsburgh can leverage their capital to move up the board and land impact players that could accelerate their rebuilding efforts.